History of Mother’s Day

One day each spring in ancient Greece, people held celebrations in honor of Rhea, whom they called the Mother of the Gods.

During the 1600s, people in England celebrated a day called “Mothering Sunday.” On that day servants were released from work to spend the day with their mothers.

In the U.S., the idea of Mother’s Day was first suggested by Julia Ward Howe in 1872 as a day dedicated to peace.

In 1907, Ana Jarvis passed out carnations at her mother’s church in Grafton, West Virginia – one for each mother in the congregation. She did this in memory of her own mother.

In 1908, St. Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia held a Sunday service honoring mothers.

In 1909, Mother’s Day services were held in all 46 states plus Canada and Mexico.

In 1912, West Virginia became the first state to adopt an official Mother’s Day.

In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a resolution establishing Mother’s Day.